Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
"Stop, you stinking Ghost Lamps! If you have the guts, come at me again, try surrounding me!"
Outside Yinfeng Creek, on Ten Miles Slope.
A gray-clothed girl brandished a Wood Cutting Blade, running as fast as the wind. Suddenly, she took a step and flew onto the grass, slashing down at the fleeing Ghost Lamps ahead!
Golden light flickered, and phosphorus flames shattered.
The power accumulated through the thirty-three Sharpness Techniques erupted suddenly, causing the Ghost Lamp group to vanish in the golden light, leaving only a few in terror, losing their lantern shapes, and fleeing for their lives.
[You used Chasing Star Step to drive away the Ghost Lamp group, after some time of usage, your understanding of the Step Method became clear, Chasing Star Step skill level +5]
[Congratulations, your Chasing Star Step has advanced to the Small Success Realm]
[You used the Wood Cutting Blade Method to kill the Ghost Lamp group, after some time of usage, your understanding of the Sword Method became enlightened, Wood Cutting Blade Method skill level +5]
[Congratulations, your Wood Cutting Blade Method has advanced to the Small Success Realm]
Jiang Yuebai straightened up and took a breath, "Finally broke through, it was worth the effort, breakthroughs are faster in actual combat."
[Martial Arts]
Chasing Star Step (Small Success: 1/1000)
Wood Cutting Blade Method (Small Success: 1/1000)
Grandfather said, with martial arts at the Small Success level, as long as you don't encounter Late-Stage Qi Cultivation, and don't clash head-on with cultivator spells and talismans, it's possible to face a few moves and escape.
If she can catch the opponent off guard, there's also a chance to win.
In the early to mid-stages of Qi Cultivation, cultivators mainly use Qi Circulation Methods to widen meridians, accumulate Spiritual Energy and refine the body. Apart from mastering some small spells and using talismans, they are not much different from ordinary martial artists.
Only in the Late-Stage Qi Cultivation, when the physique becomes strong, and the Divine Sense begins to show its power, they can wield powerful magic artifacts, and they are truly formidable and difficult to deal with.
Jiang Yuebai rubbed her nose and gazed afar.
Everything was clear within the field, no trace of phosphorous flame.
"A bunch of cowards!"
She spat secretly, shouldering the Wood Cutting Blade, and walked away from Ten Miles Slope with swagger.
Tomorrow is the last day of the one-month deadline; she must report her cultivation at the sect's Miscellaneous Task Hall. Today, she would let the Ghost Lamps off, but next time she would return.
The speed of Ghost Lamps grows stronger when faced with strength. Though weak in attack power, they are still the best choice for practicing martial arts techniques and spells.
As Jiang Yuebai departed, the ghostly green lights floated out from various parts of Ten Miles Slope, looking like startled birds.
They never imagined that in just ten days, the situation would drastically reverse.
The little girl who used to be surrounded to tears by them now fiercely pursued them, chasing them all over the mountain.
*
In early autumn, light rain misted over a pond.
Jiang Yuebai rowed a boat to leave the mountain, hurrying home before dawn.
"Little Bai, where did you go?"
Upon hearing the voice, Jiang Yuebai turned and saw Lv Ying standing at the gate of her courtyard, carrying a wooden bucket to fetch water from the creek.
"Went to practice," Jiang Yuebai said casually.
Lv Ying examined Jiang Yuebai closely and noticed the fill of Spiritual Light on her, her eyes brightening, "You broke through?!"
Jiang Yuebai nodded, having just removed the talisman concealing her Spiritual Light, she no longer needed to hide her cultivation from today.
"Thank goodness, you finally made it before the deadline. I thought today I would have to see you off. But your progress is quite behind, my Green Wood Technique is almost at Entry Level, if you have any questions in your future cultivation, remember to ask me."
Jiang Yuebai nodded with a smile and quickly returned home.
After washing up, she meditated during the breaking dawn of the Golden Crow.
After a circulation of Qi, awakening, Jiang Yuebai realized Tao Fengnian hadn't returned home; he had been busy all night.
But the work was not for their own land but for the twenty acres of Spiritual Field owned by the valley bully, Jia Wei, as well as the harvesting, breeding, and sowing there.
The Spiritual Field said to be Jia Wei's was actually all grown by Tao Fengnian, but at harvest time, Jia Wei not only failed to offer any thanks but unreasonably complained that the yield wasn't like the previous season.
Jiang Yuebai was indignant; Tao Fengnian swallowed his anger.
All because he had offended the Alchemy Elder Lin Xiangtian in his early years, and Jia Wei's elder sister was Lin Xiangtian's Dual Cultivation Concubine and had already achieved Foundation Establishment.
Lin Suwan, Lin Xiangtian, the Lin Family, snakes and rats in one nest—none of them are good people!
With the Spirit Rice steaming in the pot, coughing could be heard outside the courtyard. Jiang Yuebai wiped her hands clean and walked out of the kitchen, her eyes full of concern as she watched Tao Fengnian, covered in mud and exhausted.
"Cough, cough, cough."
As autumn deepens and dew thickens, Tao Fengnian coughs violently and continuously pounds his sore back and waist.
"Grandpa, your cough is getting worse lately. Do you want to see a doctor?" Jiang Yuebai takes the hoe and conical hat and pushes Tao Fengnian to sit down.
Tao Fengnian breathes a sigh of relief, "I am at Qi Cultivation Perfection, immune to all diseases. It's just that I'm getting old."
"Grandpa, you're not old. It's all Jia Wei's fault for making you work so hard. Grandpa, you rest while I prepare the meal."
Tao Fengnian nods, and as Jiang Yuebai enters the kitchen, he secretly takes out the smoke rod but hasn't lit it yet when he hears a shout.
"No smoking, you're already coughing!"
Jiang Yuebai runs out, angrily snatches the smoke rod from Tao Fengnian's hand.
Tao Fengnian smacks his lips, chuckling and shaking his head.
During breakfast, Jiang Yuebai sits properly, chewing slowly, no longer devouring like a month ago, looking uncouth.
In recent days, nourished by Spiritual Energy and eating Spirit Rice, after Washing Essence and Marrow, her skin is fair and delicate, her already exquisite features are even more lively and full, especially her almond eyes, sparkling with stars and laughter.
She has faced the hardships of life and the uncertainty of world affairs. Tao Fengnian truly doesn't know what makes her smile foolishly every day, thinking she grew up carefree and abundant.
The more bitterness in the heart, the sweeter the face, that's exactly her.
Looking at her, Tao Fengnian suddenly becomes worried. With such lovely appearance and a sweet, obedient, clever and smart nature, she must not be deceived by some bad boy in the future, or he will crawl out of the grave.
"Grandpa, are you full? I'll collect the dishes and wash them, you continue to rest."
Jiang Yuebai stands up to collect the dishes, and Tao Fengnian sees her bruised fingers and wrists and ankles wrapped in cloth strips, feeling an unbearable heartache.
She practices diligently every day, never slacking, enduring body wounds without a single complaint. In recent days, she's also taken on caring for him, this old man. Such a good child must make one's heart ache.
"Are you going to report your cultivation at the Miscellaneous Task Hall today?"
"Yes, today is the last day of the month; if I don't go, I'll be expelled from the Sect."
"The Miscellaneous Task Hall is below Heavenly Full Peak, a distance from Huaxi Valley. Once you're ready, Grandpa will take you."
Jiang Yuebai's hand pauses as she cleans the dishes, "Grandpa, you rest, I'll ask Lv Ying to take me."
"If she takes you, it would still take half a day. Haven't you always wanted to fly? Grandpa will take you."
Jiang Yuebai's eyes light up, "Really? Aren't servant disciples prohibited from flying in the sky within the Sect?"
Tao Fengnian straightens his back, "Grandpa is a Spiritual Cultivation Master. His status is equivalent to an Outer Sect disciple, so naturally he can fly."
Stars glimmer in Jiang Yuebai's eyes, imagining herself riding the sword, soaring with the wind, chasing clouds and cranes, roaming the world.
But...
Creak——
Creak——
In the mountain woods, a Paper Crane takes off, making an overburdened noise.
Jiang Yuebai sits cross-legged behind Tao Fengnian, tightly grasps his sleeve, watching the Flying Paper Crane covered in Yellow Paper and drawn with red Rune, wobbling and flying low above the treetops.
Jiang Yuebai feels that anytime, this Paper Crane might fall apart and crash.
Whoosh!
A sword light cuts through the sky, Jiang Yuebai looks up to see a handsome male cultivator standing on a Flying Sword with hands behind his back, his clothes fluttering elegantly.
Another crane cry, a cool female cultivator sits cross-legged on an Immortal Crane, with young cranes following on both sides, carefree among the clouds.
The crane's feathers are white and soft, looking so comfortable.
Creak——
"Cough cough," Tao Fengnian's old face blushes, "Old man...old man used to have a Flying Sword too, but later sold it when money was tight."
Jiang Yuebai purses her lips, "This Paper Crane is quite good, stable. Grandpa, can you fly higher? The view must be better from above."
Tao Fengnian coughs twice more, "Due to Sect regulations, Outer Sect disciples cannot fly higher than the Main Peak, Heavenly Chief Peak. Also, Grandpa's Paper Crane... it's somewhat old, so it might... not fly that high."
Jiang Yuebai's little face falls, "Okay, then Grandpa be careful not to crash into the trees."
Tao Fengnian glances at Jiang Yuebai, "Work hard, when you become a Spiritual Cultivation Master, Grandpa will personally refine a Flying Sword for you."
Jiang Yuebai lifts her head, her gloom vanishing, "Sure, Grandpa, you mustn't deceive me."
Tao Fengnian laughs heartily, "When have I ever deceived you? We're almost at Heavenly Full Peak. Today, apart from reporting your cultivation, you need to select a Cultivation Technique at the Library."
"Also get familiar with the Dharma Hall and lnner Affairs Hall, later you can choose the courses of interest to attend, find time to take tasks and earn Contribution Points. You have a busy day ahead."
The Paper Crane suddenly accelerates, rushing towards the majestic Heavenly Full Peak.
With an unknown journey ahead, Jiang Yuebai feels anxious.